A Tough Situation, Helping Out The Lonely In Our Community By THOMAS HARDIN Thomas Hardin is director of senior services at the Middletown Senior Center. The center is located at 150 William St. in Middletown. More information about the center and its programs is available by calling (860) 344-3513.

Here's A Great Soup For A Cold Winter Day By SYLVIA MINICKENE Sylvia Minickene is the news clerk in the Middletown bureau of The Hartford Courant, and often shares her good cooking with friends and family. She resides with her family in Portland.

On The Trail, Following The Rusted Tracks Of History By PETER MARTEKA Peter Marteka, a freelance writer, has been doing The Hartford Courant feature ``Ask The Courant'' for the past year. His nature column will appear weekly in The Middletown Extra. Please write to Peter Marteka with column suggestions and comments at: The Hartford Courant, The Middletown Extra section, 373 E. Main St., Middletown, CT 06457. Marteka can also be reached via the Internet at: marteka@courant.com.

Portland Brownstone Played An Important Role In Architecture By DIANA ROSS MCCAIN Diana Ross McCain of Durham has written about Connecticut history for numerous newspapers and magazines. If you have suggestions for future columns, please drop a line by fax at (860) 343-5220, or by writing to The Extra, c/o The Courant, 373 East Main St., Middletown, CT 06457.